Poland's constitutional turmoil escalates as rival judges convene, assault probe opens

Poland's constitutional crisis has deepened as eight judges convened a disputed Constitutional Tribunal assembly in Warsaw while prosecutors opened an investigation into an alleged assault on two judges.

The assembly was called on Tuesday by Judge Anna Korwin-Piotrowska, who assumed responsibility for running the tribunal after ordering the temporary suspension of its president, Bogdan Swieczkowski, and deputy president, Bartlomiej Sochanski.

Eight judges attended Tuesday's meeting, according to Polish media.

Korwin-Piotrowska's faction argued that eight judges satisfied the required two-thirds quorum if Swieczkowski and Sochanski, who were suspended from their duties, were excluded from the calculation.

The faction also argued that Judge Jaroslaw Wyrembak, whose appointment is disputed, should not count toward the quorum.

Swieczkowski and judges supporting him rejected that interpretation, arguing that two-thirds of the tribunal's constitutionally prescribed 15 judges meant at least 10 must attend.

The competing interpretations mean that decisions adopted during Tuesday's assembly are likely to face legal challenges.

Prosecutors investigate alleged assault

Separately, prosecutors said on Tuesday they had opened an investigation into events at the tribunal on the night of Oct. 30-31.

According to preliminary findings cited by prosecutors, several people allegedly pushed Judges Anna Korwin-Piotrowska and Krystian Markiewicz away from an entrance before entering the tribunal building.

Prosecutors said the investigation also covered an alleged attempt to use force or unlawful threats to influence the tribunal's official activities.

No suspects have been publicly charged.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki, an ally of the opposition Law and Justice party, cut short a trip to Senegal and returned to Warsaw before entering the tribunal building amid a tense standoff.

The president and government officials subsequently offered conflicting accounts of the confrontation.

Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Zurek said there was evidence that people, including judges, had been pushed during the incident.

Nawrocki's office disputed that account, saying footage showed Korwin-Piotrowska and others attempting to prevent the president from entering the building.

Long-running constitutional dispute

The crisis marks the latest stage in Poland's long-running dispute over the Constitutional Tribunal.

The conflict intensified after the Law and Justice party, now in opposition, came to power in 2015 and changed the court's composition and functioning.

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Photo: Reuters